 Beltaine:
A Danaan Wedding Rite
by Hamsadevi,
Ardbandroi (Rt. Rev. Claudia Wehmeyer)
Grove
of Dana, Tara Hedge College
Bielefeld, Germany As
the Tara Hedge Lyceum / College had been organizing pagan events in the region and had the chance to represent Goddess and
Pagan spirituality in the regional media at several occasions, pagans often turn to us when they want a pagan or celtic wedding
ceremony. As not all of those who ask us for a wedding rite are members in the F.O.I. or her sister organizations, I created
the Danaan Wedding Rite for friends of the Celtic Twilight and for all those who have found their spiritual refuge at TirnanOg.
I have borrowed a bit from the Isis Wedding Rite; and excerpts from the inspired writings of Celtic Twilight authors
James Stephens and AE have been used.
Before the world wide web came into existence it was quite difficult to find those writings except in antiquarian bookshops.
Now we can be thankful to www.gutenberg-archives.com and www.sacred-texts.com to find these inspired texts in the world wide
web.
The Danaan Wedding Rite is also published in German in the book „Das Kleine Gruene Zauberbuch“,
which contains a dedication rite for a shrine of Dana as well as rites for the seasonal festivals. Further information and
excerpts in German many be found on my websites at www.fellowship-of-isis.de
and www.druid-clan-of-dana.com.
In the invocation of the Elements I have implied Irish spiritual beings and locations as well as some local rivers, deities
and nature spirits. The reason is to honour the local spirits as part of our environment. If you may wish to practice the
rite, feel free to change the text fitting to your own environment.
Bealtaine
A Danaan Wedding Rite
Participants:
Guardian of The Threshold
Bard
Two Temple Maidens
Bride and Bridegroom
Piper
Ardbandroi
Arddroi
Let the high altar be decorated with flowers; let
there be on the altar statues or natural representations for the Goddess and the God. Let there be an incense burner with
burning charcoal and incense; a chalice filled with water, a plate with cereals, a small bottle of oil. Let the Nemeton be
decorated with flowers and candles. Participants wear robes in rainbow colours; Ardroi and Ardbandroi wear green robes. Bride
and Temple Maidens wear flowers in their hair. Bride is crowned with myrtle. Bridegroom wears a crown of green leaves; Bride
and Bridegroom have brought each a long green ribbon or silken shawl. Piper wears traditional Irish outfit (saffron coloured
kilt) Guests assemble in the Nemeton.
Procession music (harp music, Turlogh O´Carolan; or pipe
music, e.g. 'Fairy Dance')
Maidens have flower bouquets in their hands. Ardroi is holding the ritual manuscript;
Ardbandroi is holding an incense burner. Bard, Temple Maidens, Ardroi and Ardbandroi enter Nemeton; they are followed
by the Guardian of the Threshold, who closes the gate. Ardroi and Ardbandroi are standing in front of the altar, facing the
assembly.
On both sides
Maidens; Bard on the left; Guardian of the Threshold on the right side of altar.
Music
Bride and Bridegroom are moving towards the nemeton.
End of music
Bridegroom knocks thrice on the gate.
Ardroi: Honourable Bard of the Danaan Druids, who is asking for admittance to this Holy Nemeton
of Dana?
Bard: Honourable Arddroi of the Nemeton of Dana, there
are two people waiting in front of the nemeton and asking for admittance to be united with the Danaan Wedding Rite.
Ardroi: So mote it be! Honourable Guardian of the Threshold, allow them to enter.
Guardian of the treshold opens gate to nemeton.
Guardian: The honourable
Arddroi grants you the allowance to enter this Holy Nemeton of Dana to be united with the Danaan Wedding Rite.
Procession Music.
Bride and bridegroom enter nemeton and stand in front of the altar, facing ArrdroI and Arrdbandroi.
End of music.
Ardroi: In the name of the Goddess, who is the manifestation of love, beauty
and truth, we welcome you both and all who are assembled here for the Danaan Wedding Rite.
Bard: May the Ardbandroi welcome the Sidhe. May they bless our ceremony and us.
Ardbandroi: (turning east) We call upon you, the Siddhe of the east.
Inhabitants of the airy realms, riding on the winds and playing in the trees, above the waves of the sea and on the
high nountains´tops.
We ask you to bless this rite and to grant us clear thoughts, knowledge and
inspiration.
May there be wisdom and harmony in the name of Arianrhod, the Starry Queen and her husband Lir, creator
and holy breath at the beginning of all creation.
Ardbandroi: (turning south) We call upon you, Flaming Sidhe of the South.
Inhabitants of the fiery realm, dancing joyfully
in the hearthfire and in flame of life, in the belfire (bonfire) and in the warmth of the heart, in the flickering candle
and in the fair light of midday and under the glimmering stars ; we ask you to bless this rite and to grant us courage,
protection, health, and steadiness in our will for good.
In the name of Brighidh, the healer, who is also guardian of the sacred flame and in the
name of Lugh, the skilful craftsman and magickian, may beauty and abundance be granted.
Ardbandroi: (turning west) We call upon you, Siddhe of the west. Inhabitants
of the watery realms, rivers, wells, lakes and oceans, children of Weser and Werre2, Liffey and Shannon, Derry and Slaine,
Loch Neath and Loch Erne, of the Irish Sea and the Western Ocean; in the silvery mist and in the soft rain, in the lovely
music of the bubbling wells and the mighty roaring of the ocean waves grant us intuition and inspiration, insight and friendliness.
In the name of Mari, guardian of the
holy wells and Mananaan MacLir, whose snow -white horses are galopping on the foam of the towering waves of the western ocean,
may joy and inspiration be granted.
Ardbandroi: (turning north) I call upon
you, Siddhe of the north. Inhabitants of caves and rocks, mountains and wildwoods, moemkes, moss fairies, and Hollen, Leprachauns
and Cluricauns, gnomes and forest spirits, living in the thickets and in the old hedges, in the meadows and in the city gardens,
behind the hedges and in the boglands, grant us health and steadiness. In the name of Hulda and Herne, may health, success
and abundance be granted.
Ardroi: I invoke Dagda Mor, the Mighty,
The Good Father of the Tuatha de Danaan, Guardian of the Land, Guardian of Peace. Grant us health, insight, compassion and
courage. Let us participate of the nourishment from your cauldron of plenty, from which you offer so freely food for body
and spirit to all beings.
Ardbandroi: I invoke Dana, friendlly Mother of
the Tuatha de Danaan.
Beautiful Dana, in the waving fields of wheat we recognize your golden hair, your mantle is the western Ocean, the
green meadows and the wildwoods are your green garment. We salute you Dana and Mary, Mari of the mists and Mother of the
Tuatha de Danaan.
The blackbird sings in praise to you, and the playful butterflies are dancing a joyful round thus
glorifying your eternal beauty. The little ladybird finds refuge on your fingertip as you grant refuge and safety to all your
children. Please grant us, who have assembled in this Holy Nemeton the power to forgive, compassion and courage. Beauty, Truth
and Love are eternal, as they are your gifts to the beings of Middle Earth.
Ardroi:
The Goddess Dana comes joyfully to those who pray to Her. Listen to the words of William Russel, AE, inspired bard and seer
of the Temple of the Four Treasures, to whom the Sidhe unveiled at many occasions.
Bard:
Dana, the Hibernian Mother of the gods, is the first spiritual form of matter, and therefore Beauty. As every being emerges
out of her womb clothed with form, she is the Mighty Mother, and as mother of all she is that divine compassion which exists
beyond and is the final arbiter of the justice of the gods. Her heart will be in ours when ours forgive.
Now listen to the oracle of Dana which
She gave to AE!
Ardbandroi:
I am the tender voice calling away,
Whispering between the beatings of the heart,
And inaccessible in dewy eyes
I dwell, and all unkissed on lovely
lips,
Lingering between white breasts inviolate,
And fleeting ever from the passionate touch,
I shine afar
till men may not divine
Wether it is the stars or the beloved
They follow with rapt spirit. And I weave
My
spells at evening, folding with dim caress
Aerial arms and twilight drooping hair,
The lonely wanderer by wood
or shore,
Till, filled with some past tenderness he yields,
Feeling in dreams for the dear mother heart
He
knew ere he forsook the starry way,
And clings there, pillowed far above the smoke
And the dim murmur from the
duns of men.
I can enchant the trees and rocks, and fill
The dumb brown lips of earth with mystery.
Make
them reveal or hide the God, Myself
Mother of all, but without hands to heal
To vast and vague, they know me not,
but yet,
I am the heartbreak over fallen things,
The sudden gentleness that stays the blow,
And I am in
the kiss the foemen give
Pausing the battle, and in the tears that fall
Over the vanquished foe, and in the highest,
Among the Danaan Gods, I am the last
Council of mercy in their hearts where
They meet justice from a thousand
Starry Thrones.
My heart shall be in thine when thine forgives!
Ardroi:
Strong is the Blessing of Dana for all who pray to Her. Therefore may She bless this Wedding Rite.
Ardbandroi turns to altar and holds palms over the incense burner, water chalice, plate with cereals and bottle with
oil.
Ardbandroi: May the holy elements of water and air, fire and
earth be blessed fo this holy rite.
She takes the water chalice, dips her middle finger into the water and marks brow
of bride and bridegroom, speaking to each of them the following words: Through this blessed water from a holy well may true
vision awaken behind each brow!
Ardroi: Bride and Bridegroom shall now
themselves enact the Rite.
Ardroi and Ardbandroi exchange places with the Bride and Bridegroom, who now stand facing
the assembly.
Bride: (to Bridegroom)
Do not go in front of me, as I do not wish to follow. Do not go behind me as I do not wish to lead. Walk by my side,
as I want to walk beside you on all the paths of live and growth.
Bridegroom: (to Bride) Do not go in front of me, as I do not wish to follow. Do not go behind me as
I do not wish to lead. Walk by my side, as I want to walk beside you on all the paths of live and growth.
All: So mote ot be!
Ardbandroi: (to Bride and Bridegroom) Together shall you hold a pot of fire. So may you use Creative Will for good.
First Maiden gives Arddroi the incense pot. Arddroi hands the pot to Bride and Bridegroom. Having held it together,
they return it to him.
Ardroi: Water now is added to this Fire. Let calm
emotion harmonize with Will.
Second Temple Maiden hands the cup of water to the Ardroi, who offers it to the Bridegroom
and Bride. - Bridegroom and Bride in turn dip the middle finger into the water; then allow a few drops to fall into the pot.
Ardroi: The Element of Air, symbol of Mind, May well combine with Water
and with Fire.
Bride and Bridegroom take the pot from Ardroi and together hold it high in the air. They move it
so that the smoke circulates freely.
Ardroi: Strength and Abundance from
the fruitful Earth, Must now be added through these grains of oats.
Second Maiden hands Arddroi the bowl of oats.
Ardroi offers this to the Bride and the Bridegroom. Each in turn take a few grains which are dropped into the pot, held for
them by Ardbandroi.
Ardroi: Ether, through this oil, blends Water, Earth,
Fire and Air. These two Spirits likewise find mutual Harmony.
Ardbandroi: Now
it is needful for the Hierophant to tie the Eternal Knot.
The Ardbandroi and Ardroi exchange places with the Bride
and Bridegroom. Bride and Bridegroom produce two handkerchiefs or silken shawls, holding each by one corner.
The Ardroi, in sight of the Assembly, takes a loose corner of each handkerchief, and ties a fast
knot.
Ardbandroi: As is the immemorial custom, let us now three
times walk round the Holy Fire, following first the Path of the Sun.
Pipe music.
Piper leading the round around the fire.
Ardbandroi
takes a censer and leads Bridegroom and Bride three times round the pot which stands on a tripod before the altar. They move
from Left to Right.
Ardroi follows,
also holding her censer.
Ardroi: That their Union be complete, let
Bride and Bridegroom alone tread the Path of the Moon.
Bride and Bridegroom alone
go round the Fire three times, the Bride leading. They move from Right to Left.
Ardroi: (facing Bridal Pair and the Assembly) In the Name of Isis,
of Tara, of Dana, I declare that you are married.
Ardbandroi: In the name
of the Priesthood of Isis, I bear witness that these two are married.
Bard:
In the name of the Bards and the Druids of Ireland I bear witness that these two are married.
Ardroi approaches the Bride and Bridegroom and from each she takes the corner of the handkerchief they are holding.
Ardroi turns to the altar holding the corners in either hand, and then places the Knot before the image of the Goddess, on
the altar.
Ardroi: In this Ceremony let us remember the Gods and
Goddesses of Ireland.
The call of the Sidhe is heard by the souls of those who seek eternal happiness.
Ardbandroi: Let us listen to the Faery Poem of the Irish God Midir to his wife Etain, Who
had become incarnate here on Earth.
(Soft music of the Harp is heard. Here Dance
may be introduced.)
Bridegroom is presented a book by the First Maiden
from which he reads the following:
Bridegroom: "O fair-haired
woman, will you come with me to the marvellous land, full of music?
There none speaks of 'mine' or 'thine.'
Pleasant to the eye are the plains of Eire,
But they are a desert to the Great Plain.
It is one of the wonders
of that Land
That youth does not change into age.
There all men are noble, without blemish;
There women weave
enchantments of joy.
We see around us on every side,
Yet no man seeth us:
The ignorance of humans hides us
from their sight.
Oh Lady, if thou wilt come to my strong people, A crown of purest gold shall shine about thy head."
Ardbandoi: Women of the Sidhe awaken immortal longings in earthly men. Such a one was Niamh of the Golden Hair.
As the mortal Oisin stood upon the shore of Lough Lena, she came to him riding upon a white steed across the water. She bade
him come with her to Tir na nOg, the magical land beyond the Western Ocean.
Bride is presented
with a book by the Second Maiden, from which she reads the following:
Bride:
Delightful is the land beyond all dreams.
"Fairer than aught thine eyes have ever seen.
There all the year
the fruit is on the tree,
And all the year the bloom is on the flower.
There with wild honey drip the forest
trees,
The stores of mead and wine shall never fail.
Nor pain nor sickness knows the dweller there,
Death
and decay come near him nevermore.
The feast shall cloy not, nor the dance shall tire,
Nor music cease for
ever through the hall;
The gold and jewels of the Land of Youth Outshine all
splendours ever dreamed of man.
A crown of sovereignty thy brow shall wear
And by thy side a magic blade shall hang
And thou shalt be
lord of all the Land of Youth,
And spouse of Niamh of the hair of Gold."
First
Maiden: So each to each the man and woman call. To that which is the secret wish of all.
Second Maiden: The veil between the faery world and ours May sometimes vanish for enchanted hours.
Bard: To find the Other - is to find Oneself. All Nature is expressed in one loved face.
Let us now listen to the words of the Danaan bard James stephens, describing a merry procession of the Sidhe.
Ardbandroi: With wonder, with delight, the daughter of Murrachu watched the hosting of the
Shee. Sometimes
her eyes were dazzled as a jewelled forehead blazed in the sun, or a shoulder-torque of broad gold flamed like a torch. On
fair hair and dark the sun gleamed: white arms tossed and glanced a moment and sank and reappeared. The eyes of those who
did not hesitate nor compute looked into her eyes, not appraising, not questioning, but mild and unafraid. The voices of free
people spoke in her ears and the laughter of happy hearts, unthoughtful of sin or shame, released from the hard bondage of
selfhood.
For these people, though many, were one. Each spoke to the other as to himself, without reservation
or subterfuge. They moved freely each in his personal whim, and they moved also with the unity of one being: for when they
shouted to the Mother of the gods they shouted with one voice, and they bowed to her as one man bows. Through the many minds
there went also one mind, correcting, commanding, so that in a moment the interchangeable and fluid became locked, and organic
with a simultaneous understanding, a collective action-- which was freedom.
While she looked the dancing ceased,
and they turned their faces with one accord down the mountain. Those in the front leaped forward, and behind them the others
went leaping in orderly progression.
Then Angus Og ran to where she stood, his bride of Beauty- "Come, my
beloved," said he, and hand in hand they raced among the others, laughing as they ran.
Here there was no green
thing growing; a carpet of brown turf spread to the edge of sight on the sloping plain and away to where another mountain
soared in the air. They came to this and descended. In the distance, groves of trees could be seen, and, very far away, the
roofs and towers and spires of the Town of the Ford of Hurdles, and the little roads that wandered everywhere; but on this
height there was only prickly furze growing softly in the sunlight; the bee droned his loud song, the birds flew and sang
occasionally, and the little streams grew heavy with their falling waters. A little further and the bushes were green and
beautiful, waving their gentle leaves in the quietude, and beyond again, wrapped in sunshine and peace, the trees looked on
the world from their calm heights, having no complaint to make of anything.
In a little they reached the grass land and
the dance began. Hand sought for hand, feet moved companionably as though they loved each other; quietly intimate they tripped
without faltering, and, then, the loud song arose--they sang to the lovers of gaiety and peace, long defrauded-
"Come
to us, ye who do not know where ye are—ye who live among strangers in the house of dismay and self-righteousness. Poor,
awkward ones! How bewildered and bedevilled ye go! Amazed ye look and do not comprehend, for your eyes are set upon a star
and your feet move in the blessed kingdoms of the Shee Innocents! in what prisons are ye flung? To what lowliness are ye bowed?
How are ye ground between the laws and the customs? The dark people of the Fomor have ye in thrall; and upon your minds they
have fastened aband of lead, your hearts are hung with iron, and about your loins a cincture of brass impressed, woeful!
Believe
it, that the sun does shine, the flowers grow, and the birds sing pleasantly in the trees. The free winds are everywhere,
the water tumbles on the hills, the eagle calls aloud through the solitude, and his mate comes speedily. The bees are gathering
honey in the sunlight, the midges dance together, and the great bull bellows across the river. The crow says a word to his
brethren, and the wren snuggles her young in the hedge....
Come to us, ye lovers of life and happiness.
Hold out thy hand--a brother shall seize it from afar. Leave the plough and the cart for a little time: put aside the needle
and the awl--Is leather thy brother, O man? . . . Come away! come away! from the loom and the desk, from the shop where the
carcasses are hung, from the place where raiment is sold and the place where it is sewn in darkness: O bad treachery! Is it
for joy you sit in the broker's den, thou pale man? Has the attorney enchanted thee? . . . Come away! for the dance has
begun lightly, the wind is sounding over the hill, the sun laughs down into the valley, and the sea leaps upon the shingle,
panting for joy, dancing, dancing, dancing for joy. . . ."
They swept through the goat tracks and the little
boreens and the curving roads. Down to the city they went dancing and singing; among the streets and the shops telling their
sunny tale; not heeding the malignant eyes and the cold brows as the sons of Balor looked sidewards. And they took the Philosopher
from his prison, even the Intellect of Man they took from the hands of the doctors and lawyers, from the sly priests, from
the professors whose mouths are gorged with sawdust, and the merchants who sell blades of grass--the awful people of the Fomor
. . . and then they returned again, dancing and singing, to the country of the gods....
Ardroi: (to the
assembly) Let us send thoughts of Harmony to all, that they may share our joy.
Ardbandroi and Arddroi raise hands
in blessing, in the Isis pose. (Which is with arms outstretched from sides, as the winged Isis with wings outspread.)
Ardroi: May all beings and existences be blessed: The Sidhe and humans: animals and
birds: reptiles, fish-and insects: trees and plants: and every element.
All Present:
So mote it be.
Ardroi: (facing East)
We give thanks to Isis and Osiris for Wisdom and Harmony.
Ardbandroi: (turning East) We give thanks for wisdom and harmony to Arianrhod of the Silver Wheel and
to Lir, Father of Mananaan. We give thanks for inspiration to the Sidhe of the air
Ardbandroi:
(turning south) We give thanks for beauty and abundance to Brighidh and Lugh.
We give thanks for the warmth of the hearth fire to the Sidhe of Fire.
Ardbandroi:
(turning west) We give thanks for joy and creativity to Mari and Mananaan.
We give thanks for the clean drinking water to the Sidhe of the water.
Ardbandroi:
(turning north) We give thanks for protection and strength, health and
steadiness to the Sidhe of the north and the earthly realm, caves, meadows, rocks and hilltops, the wildwood and the city
gardens.
We give thanks
for the granting of creativity, success and abundance to Hulda and Herne.
She
raises her arms and faces the assembly.
Ardbandroi: May you go forth with the the divine blessing!
Ardroi: In the name of Dana, Tara, Brighidh and Isis, so be it!
Procession
music (piper "The Battle is Over")
First Bridegroom and Bride leave the Nemeton, followed by Temple Maidens,
Bard, Ardbandroi and Arddroi. Guardian of the Threshold leaves last. Sources: Olivia Robertson: The Isis Wedding Rite“; James Stephens:
„Crock of Gold“; AE: „Candle of Vision“
About the Author: Rt. Rev. Claudia Wehmeyer has been a member of the Fellowship of Isis for more than twenty
years. She and her husband Thomas head Grove of Dana, Grove of Tara and Tara Hedge College which is comprised of a community
of Iseums, Lyceums, Priories and Groves concentrated mainly in Germany and Switzerland, along with other centers they helped
to establish throughout Europe. Claudia helped to translate portions of the FOI liturgy from English into German, and in
her own words has provided a place where “newcomers may find guidance, information and a working rainbow network of
Isian/Danaan pilgrims on the spiral path of the Goddess.” She is one of the organizers of the first international
pagan and Goddess conventions on the European Continent, with Olivia Robertson attending the latter. Claudia is one
of the publishers of three goddess based magazines, 'Hinkelstein' and 'Heckenkurier' which focused on the
religion of the Goddess worldwide, and 'Zeit der Goettin,' a German language Isian journal.
Website of FOI Germany, a Central Global Website of the Fellowship
of Isis:
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